Transformational leadership is one of the most effective types of leadership widely used in businesses and organizations. So what are the transformational leadership examples?
Transformational leaders are inspirational and can create positive change at all levels, from individuals to large groups to achieve bigger goals.
This article will help managers understand these styles through 7 examples of transformational leadership. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- What is Transformational Leadership?
- Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership
- Advantages and disadvantages of Transformational Leadership
- 5 Successful Transformational Leadership Examples
- How to Improve Transformational Leadership
- More on Leadership with AhaSlides
- Problem with Transformational Leadership
- Final Thoughts
Tips for Better Engagement
| Who invented transformational leadership? | James MacGregor Burns (1978) |
| What are the 4 of transformational leadership? | Idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration |
| Who is an example of a transformational leader? | Oprah Winfrey |
| Is Mark Zuckerberg a transformational leader? | Yes |
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What is Transformational Leadership?
So, what is a transformational leader? Have you ever met a manager who was able to communicate team goals and inspire all team members strongly? This leadership style is known as Transformational Leadership.
What is transformational leadership? The transformational leadership style is characterised by encouraging and inspiring people to innovate themselves – contributing to the growth and success of the business. They focus on building a strong sense of corporate culture, ownership, and autonomy at work.
So is it hard to be a transformational leader? Observing famous business leaders and their leadership styles, you can see that transformational leaders don’t micro-manage – instead, they trust their employees’ ability to handle their work. This leadership style allows employees to be creative, think boldly, and be willing to propose new solutions through coaching and mentoring.
Transactional vs. Transformational Leader
Many people are confused between the two concepts of Transformational and Transactional Style. Here are some differences:
- Meaning: Transactional style is a type of leadership whereby rewards and punishments are used as the basis for initiating followers. While Transformational is a leadership style in which a leader uses his charisma and enthusiasm to influence his followers.
- Concept: The transactional leader emphasizes his relationship with his followers. In contrast, transformational leadership places a focus on the values, beliefs, and needs of his followers.
- Nature: Transactional Leadership is reactive while Transformational Leadership is proactive.
- Best suited for: Transactional leadership is best for a stable environment, but Transformation is suitable for a chaotic environment.
- Objective: Transactional leadership works to improve the existing conditions of the organization. On the other hand, Transformational Leadership works to change the existing conditions of the organization.
- Quantity: In Transactional Leadership, there is only one leader in a team. In Transformational Leadership, there can be more than one leader in a team.
- Motivation: Transactional leadership focuses on planning and execution, while transformational leadership drives innovation.
Two Transactional Leadership Examples
Case example: The director of a supermarket chain meets with each team member once a month to discuss how they can meet and exceed the company’s monthly goals for bonuses. Each of the top 5 highest-grossing members in the district will receive a monetary reward.
Real-life example of leadership: Bill Gates – Throughout Microsoft’s evolution, Bill’s dominance of transactional leadership has contributed to the phenomenal growth of the organization.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is the right choice when your business needs change. This style is not for newly established companies that have not yet completed the structure and working process. There are many benefits of transformational leadership and, of course, drawbacks.
Advantages
- Facilitating and encouraging the development of new ideas
- Ensuring a balance between short-term vision and long-term goals
- Building trust among members of the organization
- Encouraging integrity and empathy for others (high emotional intelligence – EQ)
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for new businesses
- Requiring a clear organizational structure
- Not work well with bureaucratic models
5 Successful Examples of Transformational Leadership
Why is transformational leadership effective? Read these examples of business leaders, then you’ll get the answer.
Transformational leadership examples in business
- Jeff Bezos
As the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos has always understood that a successful business is customer-focused. Despite reporters’ objections in the clip, Bezos offers a bold vision of what the world’s largest online retailer will become – and how he will deliver it.
Amazon is the perfect model of transformational leadership and shows that by building on a series of short-term goals, things can be achieved at a great scale.
Transformational leadership examples in sports
- Billy Beane (Major League Baseball)
Billy Beane, executive vice president of baseball brand Oakland Athletics, is a pioneer in changing long-held beliefs about structure and process.
By applying advanced analytical techniques to Athletics’ recruiting strategy, his fellow coaches can identify potential signings that have been overlooked or undervalued by their opponents.
Not only in the sports field, but Beane’s techniques also have potential applications in the business world.
Transformational leadership examples in politics
- Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama is an American politician and lawyer and the 44th President of the United States.
US Ambassador Susan Rice commented that Obama “Makes people feel that their views are heard and appreciated. So even if your opinion is not chosen, you still feel your vision is valuable. That makes you all the more enthusiastic to support his final decision.”
Barack Obama believes that without personal opinions that benefit the community, people will easily be swayed by criticism from other individuals. If they don’t train themself to have a clear opinion, they will spend a lot of time changing their plans and not becoming a great leader.
Transformational leadership examples in human rights activism
- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)
He was a great American human rights activist and will forever be remembered by the world for his contributions.
Martin Luther King is considered one of the most famous transformational leaders in history.
He became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35. When he won, he used the prize money of 54,123 USD to continue to develop the movement for human rights.
In 1963, King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, envisioning an America in which people of all races lived equally.
Transformational leadership examples in the media industry
- Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey – “The Queen of All Media”. She hosted the Oprah Winfrey Show from 1986 to 2011. It was the highest-rated talk show in history and Winfrey became an African American richest man of the 20th century.
Time magazine named her one of its most influential people in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. A Forbes article from October 2010 celebrates Winfrey as a transformational leader because she could inspire her employees to fulfill her vision while maintaining mass appeal.
How to Improve Transformational Leadership
Here are 4 steps you can take to improve transformational leadership:
Have a clear vision
You must communicate a clear and convincing mission statement to your employees. That vision is why you – and your employees – wake up every morning. So, the managers have to understand core values and the capabilities of the subordinates as available resources to create high-performing teams
Motivate everyone
Tell your employees inspirational stories – so that they realize the benefits that will come from pursuing your vision. Not just once – you need to interact with your subordinates regularly, align the company vision with their interests and show them what you can do to make it happen.
Build trust with employees
As a transformational leader, you must regularly communicate directly with each team member. The goal is to identify their development needs and what you can do to help them achieve aspirations.
Monitor business operations
It is not uncommon for leaders to come up with a strategic vision, but not put in the effort to execute it. To solve this problem, communication within the business is essential. All members need to be fully aware of their roles and how their performance will be measured.
On the other hand, clear and (SMART) goals are also essential. These goals include short-term work that can help businesses achieve rapid success and inspire all employees.
Problem with Transformational Leadership
Transformational leaders may need to be more optimistic and visionary, leading them to overlook practical considerations and potential risks.
It can be emotionally draining for both the leader and members! This leadership style often requires high energy and enthusiasm, and the constant need to inspire and motivate others can be exhausting over time. Team members may feel overwhelmed or pressured to meet the high expectations set by the transformational leader, leading to burnout or disengagement.
Overcoming those two problems is the best way to be an inspiring transformational leader!
Final Thoughts
Transformational Leadership may not be the right choice in every situation, and “when to use transformational leadership” is a big question that every leader should figure out. However, the advantage of this leadership style is the ability to “unleash” the full development potential of the business.
Managers must constantly focus on improving leadership skills – to empower employees and determine the right direction for the business.
Start the first steps of change by inspiring employees with live presentations for a day of meetings or work that is no longer boring!
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Reference: Western Governors University
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Transformational Leadership?
The transformational leadership style is characterised by encouraging and inspiring people to innovate themselves – contributing to the growth and success of the business. They focus on building a strong sense of corporate culture, ownership, and autonomy at work.
Problems with Transformational Leadership
(1) Transformational leaders may need to be more optimistic and visionary, leading them to overlook practical considerations and potential risks. (2) It can be emotionally draining for both the leader and members! This leadership style often requires high energy and enthusiasm, and the constant need to inspire and motivate others can be exhausting over time. (3) Overcoming those two problems is the best way to be an inspiring transformational leader!
Is it hard to be a transformational leader?
Transformational leaders don’t micro-manage – instead, they trust their employees’ ability to handle their work. This leadership style allows employees to be creative, think boldly, and be willing to propose new solutions through coaching and mentoring.
